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October 2009
one step at a time
artist and professor horst glasker painted these 112 steps in wuppertal, germany to convey a different emotion or behavior associated with relationships. some examples are "to forgive", "to cuddle", "to offer resistance", and "to seduce."
inspiration method
“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” -Vincent van Gogh
September 2009
love thursday: 24 simple ways to show love in the next 24 hours
1. Buy coffee for the guy standing behind you at the coffee shop.
2. Open the door for someone before entering yourself. It doesn't matter if you're a girl and he's a boy, or you're a boy and she's a girl, or you're both boys, or you're both girls. You can do it.
3. Send a quick email to someone you haven't heard from in a while. It can just say, "Hey, I was thinking about you. I hope you're well." Trust me, it will make her day.
4. Send a small, handwritten note -- via regular mail! -- to someone far away. It can just say, "Hey, I was thinking about you. I hope you're well." Trust me, it will make his day.
5. Give someone flowers, just because. They don't have to be expensive. The blossom above was part of a grocery-store bouquet that cost $3.99. The recipient really isn't going to care that it wasn't expensive. I promise.
6. Invite someone to your home. Have something baking in the oven for them when they arrive.
7. Light a candle and think of someone who is going through a rough time. Silently offer them good thoughts/prayers.
8. Pick a charity. Give something.
9. Buy a magazine subscription for a friend out of the blue.
10. Give blood.
11. Prepare someone's tea. In my opinion, it's a wonderful act of love to not just put the hot water and a teabag in front of a friend, but actually prepare and steep the tea for them.
12. Tell a child -- or someone who is struggling with self-esteem -- how great you think they are. And mean it.
13. The next person who serves you a meal at a restaurant, or helps you in a store, or sells you your morning newspaper, look him in the eyes, smile, and say "thank you" with as much sincerity as you can muster.
14. Give someone a heartfelt hug. Just because.
15. Start a hopeful revolution: leave a hope note somewhere. Extra points if you leave it on the windshield of a stranger's car.
16. Offer to cook a meal for someone.
17. Offer to give someone a break -- babysit, hire a maid service for them, or even straighten her house yourself.
18. Clean out your closet. Give the gently-used clothing you no longer want to a shelter.
19. Take a photograph of something beautiful. Send it to someone, with the note: "This reminded me of you."
20. Give someone something of yours -- a book, perhaps, or a small trinket -- with no expectation of return.
21. Blow out a candle. Make a wish on someone else's behalf as you do it.
22. Make a short list of the things you love about someone you love. Leave the list where they can find it.
23. Make a date to have coffee or a glass of wine with an old friend.
24. Say "I love you." Mean it.
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August 2009
once more, with feeling
"love how time seems to move differently at the beach. how i can sit on the beach for hours and the day seems to melt by like honey. how i can spend an entire day looking out over that ocean, laying in that sand, eating sandwiches smushed from the cooler, painting, swimming, gathering rocks (don't get me started on the beach rocks!), walking, talking, napping, reading, looking out at the ocean some more, and suddenly the sun is starting to set and the day has gone by in what feels like an instant. i love that. all of it."
ode to friday
i love you because you are the day that simon drives me to work. (and the day he buys me a scone, too. )
i love you because a fine glass of wine or cold beer awaits me after work.
i love you because you are the day that new illustrations are posted here.
i love you because you remind me to turn off my iphone, shut down my laptop, and just be.
On taking the next step
There is so much about this crazy life to be grateful for. So much goodness. So much support. So much love. Even when the steps take great effort, and the breath is labored, there is beauty unfolding.
In shadow and in light.
Verses for Daily Living
Following the Breath
Breathing in, I calm my body
Breathing out, I smile
Dwelling in the present moment
I know this is a wonderful moment
Breathing in, I know I am breathing in
And breathing, out I know
As the in-breath goes deep
The out-breath grows slow
Breathing in makes me calm
Breathing out brings me ease
With the in breath, I smile
With the out breath, I release
Breathing in, there is only the present moment
Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment
In, Out
Deep, Slow
Calm, Ease
Smile, Release
Present moment, Wonderful moment
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
淡水的茉莉花園&手作陶
鳳珍,前花草遊戲雜誌副主編,我不常見面但很有得聊的朋友,在這不景氣人人緊守工作崗位的時候,選擇了牽著腳踏車,開起她的“茉莉花園“
在哪裡?淡水榕堤餐廳附近 每個星期五
b is for book
When our son C was born, my husband's family put together a bag full of favorite children's books. Each person in the family chose a book, and wrote a little note explaining why they had picked it and what they hoped C would learn from it. It was such a thoughtful gift, and almost five years later, many of those books are my son's favorites.
March 2009
莫內拯救了情緒病人
走到Monet 的Water Lilies中央,看著他漫延輕步,淺白的陽光反射,沉默細語的湖面,幽暗間的疑惑,被覆蓋上一片一片串連的細蓮葉子,不動聲息滑過水面,走一少步,停著,不經意間踏了另一小步,寂靜,依著水流,劃過了心境起伏不停的情緒,片刻喘息,最後,沉睡在那一片深藍。
February 2009
在大自然之前
「在新西蘭的奧克蘭群島對出的海底,那條好奇的南脊美鯨(Southern right whale),看來是第一次看見人類,就這樣在Brian的助理身旁打轉。不講是非,不懂仇恨,不懂害人,也不懂為明天擔憂,牠龐大身軀背後的簡單單純,令牠曾經瀕臨絕種,親手殺絕牠們的,是你,也是我。」
Rose and Radish Valentines
""before and after" arrangements from Rose and Radish, emphasizing the use of the vessel after the love fest is over"
January 2009
November 2008
Have Faith This Storm Will Pass
Clouds form, winds blow, rain falls and the sun keeps shining.
